Following the signing of the project document for the implementation of the Strengthening Integrated Transboundary Management of the Incomati and Maputo River Basins project in July, member states and stakeholders convened in Mbombela, South Africa, to develop strategies for implementing the five-year initiative, valued at over USD 71 million.

The project, which includes Eswatini, Mozambique, and South Africa, is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to the tune of USD 7.1 million. At the same time, member states and partners contributed USD 64 million. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is providing oversight, with implementation led by the Global Water Partnership–Southern Africa (GWP-SA).

The inception meeting, taking place between 17 and 18 September, aims to enhance stakeholders’ understanding of the project’s objectives, outline expected results and planned activities, clarify roles and responsibilities, and foster alignment among project teams and partners.

The project seeks to address key challenges in the Incomati and Maputo river basins across the three countries by:

1. Strengthening the Incomati and Maputo Watercourse Commission (INMACOM), a transboundary river basin organization;

2.  Restoring over 12,800 hectares of degraded land;

3. Promoting sustainable management of an additional 35,900 hectares;

4. Enhancing regional cooperation between river basin, conservation, and coastal management authorities; and

5. Ensuring communities – particularly women – are not only participants, but key actors in water governance, data collection, ecosystem restoration, and green jobs.

Member states, through their task team leads, reaffirmed their commitment to the project and its outcomes:

“We’re grateful to GEF for providing this support to the project and, as Eswatini, we’re ready for the implementation so that, by the time we finish, we’d have addressed the challenges of the two basins,” said Emelda Mapule Magagula, Chief Water Engineer at the Department of Water Affairs under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, Eswatini.

“This meeting is a step in the right direction. While we appreciate the work done so far, now we’re excited that we’re moving from talking to implementation,” said Petunia Ramunenyiwa, Chief Director, Intergovernmental Relations, Sector Transformation and Provincial Government, South Africa.

“It has been a long way to start implementing the project, and we’re grateful. We’re committed to ensuring that the project will be successful for all of us,” said Lizete Dias, Chief of Water Resources at Ara-Sul-IP, Mozambique.

UNDP and GWP-SA are ready to roll up their sleeves in support of the work ahead. As the GEF Accredited Agency, UNDP’s role is to facilitate the disbursement of funds, ensure compliance with GEF policies and safeguards, and provide technical oversight to guarantee the delivery of the project’s objectives. 

Meanwhile, GWP-SA contributes deep technical expertise and strong regional networks in the field of international and transboundary water management.

“We must move swiftly into implementation – mobilising expertise, engaging stakeholders at all levels, integrating gender and youth, and ensuring that we see transformation of the water commissions in the three countries and that our new commission, INMACOM, grows into a resilient, respected, and technically sound institution for basin governance,” said UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Ms. Nessie Golakai-Gould.

“We’re committed to hit the ground running; defining priorities, responsibilities and activities that stakeholders need to focus on,” said Dr Loreen Katiyo, Transboundary Water Governance and Environment Specialist at GWP-SA.